My next holiday
March 27th 2009 00:51
What could be better than a visit to the International Space Station? According to American Charles Simonyi, there is something better: two visits.
Hungarian-born Microsoft software development legend Mr Simonyi, 59, was aboard the Soyuz rocket which left yesterday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He gets to look out the window and admire the view while spacecraft driving duties are shared between Commander Gennady Padalka, a Russian air force colonel, and flight engineer Michael Barratt, a US astronaut and doctor.
The trip takes about two days. After they dock at the space station on Saturday, Padalka and Barratt will stay for a tour of duty, relieving two others who will take over spacecraft driving duties for the American tourist's return journey.
Mr Simonyi wouldn't reveal exactly how much he paid for his jaunt, but dropped a big hint by saying the "list price for a Soyuz seat is $35 million".
Whatever the price, he obviously obviously thinks it's worth it. He first visited the International Space Station in April 2007. Of that trip, he said, "It is amazing how it appears from the blackness of the sky. It was very, very dramatic. It was like a big stage set, a fantastic production of some incredible opera or modern play."
Can someone please lend me $35 million and some thick clothing?
image: www.lacombo.com
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Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Sharks, carcrashes, snakes, visitors and on it goes.
Failure, success.
Maybe that's what I need. A holiday.
In other words, can I have the window seat?
Aisles terrify me.
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
Comment by Carolyn Cordon
Light Within
How do You Express Your Creativity?
Food Leaf
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
imagine having the spare cash to pay for such a holiday!
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
Hi Morgan, that sounds reasonable to me. How do you go looking out the window? Me, no way I would ever, ever, ever do a bungy jump. But I'd love to do a parachute jump.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
bungy jumping and skydiving is not for me!